-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The puppeteer who gave Sesame Street 's Elmo his voice allegedly threw a crystal meth sex party for a teenage boy in 2004 , according to a federal lawsuit filed this week .

Sheldon Stephens , now 24 , is the fourth man to sue Kevin Clash , but he was the first one to publicly claim he had a sexual relationship with him as a teen .

Stephens ' lawsuit is `` meritless and barred by the statute of limitations , '' Clash lawyer Michael Berger told CNN Tuesday . `` Mr. Clash continues to deny any wrongdoing , and we intend to defend this case forcefully . ''

Although Stephens called it an `` an adult consensual relationship '' last November , the revelation triggered Clash 's suspension from Sesame Street and eventually his resignation .

Clash , who provided the high-pitched voice of the iconic furry red Elmo since 1984 , acknowledged a relationship between `` two consenting adults '' when Stephens ' story first emerged , but he said it otherwise was a `` false and defamatory allegation . ''

`` I am a gay man , '' Clash , 52 , said in a statement in November . `` I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it , but felt it was a personal and private matter . ''

When heroes disappoint our kids

Three other men soon emerged with federal lawsuits , filed last November and December , accusing Clash of befriending them as teenager then engaging in sex with them . They are all represented by Florida lawyer Jeff Herman , who also filed Stephens ' lawsuit Monday .

Clash 's lawyer has asked a judge to dismiss the three other suits based on his argument that the men waited too long to sue . The federal statute of limitations on such civil cases is six years , while their allegations involve relationships that ended more than 10 years ago , Berger said in a court filing this month .

Each lawsuit contends that the men only realized in the last year or so that they suffered psychological and emotional damage from their encounters with Clash .

`` Clash was an adult male living a prominent public life centered around the entertainment of toddlers , while at the same time he was , in secret , preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests , '' the Stephens suit alleged .

While the allegations in the newest suit mirror what the other men contend , Stephens ' complaint is the only one to allege drug use by Clash .

`` Clash smoked crystal meth while engaging in sexual activity with Sheldon , '' the lawsuit said . `` Clash also gave Sheldon ` poppers ' as a sexual aide . While Clash had sexual contact with Sheldon , the chauffeur watched and masturbated . '' `` Poppers '' generally refers to alkyl nitrites in capsule form that produce a physical rush when broken and inhaled : crystal meth refers to crystal methamphetamine .

Stephens was 16 when he met Clash in New York `` at a social networking event for models and actors , '' the suit said .

`` Clash told Sheldon he would help Sheldon with his acting career , '' it said .

Clash resigned from his job on `` Sesame Street '' after the first lawsuit was filed in November .

`` I am resigning from Sesame Workshop with a very heavy heart , '' Clash said in a written statement at the time . `` I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization . Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I can not allow it to go on any longer . I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately . ''

Despite his stepping down , Clash 's voice will be used for Elmo through 2014 , as the next season of `` Sesame Street '' has already been filmed .

CNN 's Carolyn Sung contributed to this report .

@highlight

Sheldon Stephens ' suit accuses Kevin Clash of causing him psychological harm

@highlight

Clash 's lawyer says suit is `` meritless and barred by the statute of limitations ''

@highlight

Stephens previously called it `` an adult consensual relationship ''

@highlight

3 other men using the same lawyer are suing Clash for similar reasons